CULTURAL AWARENESS
One of our staff is an Aboriginal man of Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay heritage from Lightning Ridge and Walgett in NSW. He not only has strong connections country but community to and has established over many years numerous contacts and networks in the Aboriginal community throughout NSW.
As a young boy learning from his father and mother on trips to the bush and also working as contract fencers on farms and properties across QLD and NSW, learning about the bush, with it’s foods and medicines. On these trips my parents showed us the importance bush medicines their uses. Ash from a certain tree to clean your teeth, for bathing our cuts and sores in, a tea for detoxing the body and cleanses the blood.
Other plants we use could be used for invasive species as it disrupted their breeding cycle. Made up differently using the bark crushed with and used with two root types to dip in the water everything would float to the surface just stunned or paralyzed, this was harmless to humans as we ate the fish we took.
Also taught how to hunt on the land by using the land and also taught how to respect the land for the land will provide for you if you respect it. All of our staff also were taught how to hunt and fish this way, which we have done for over 30 years.
Now we find that a lot of the plants are gone or are slowly disappearing dew to the over running of invasive species such as goats and pigs which have also destroyed site of cultural significant and to Aboriginal person it’s heart wrenching.
Working in both rural and urban setting within the Aboriginal community, has made us acutely aware of the issues impacting on Aboriginal people. We have learnt the importance of identity, oral history, language and cultural heritage. One of our staff was fortunate to have learnt some of the language spoken by my Elders, including his mother who had a strong command of both languages and spoke fluently in Gamilaraay.
Given extensive experience working in the Aboriginal community controlled health sector, knowledge of issues confronting Aboriginal communities and we have high level of skills and ability to work with Aboriginal people.
Dealing with many issues relating to Aboriginal people through involvement in various steering committees, as part of the non-government sector. Crystalizes the implications of government workings, legislation and policy frameworks having daily implications for how we do our work.
As a young boy learning from his father and mother on trips to the bush and also working as contract fencers on farms and properties across QLD and NSW, learning about the bush, with it’s foods and medicines. On these trips my parents showed us the importance bush medicines their uses. Ash from a certain tree to clean your teeth, for bathing our cuts and sores in, a tea for detoxing the body and cleanses the blood.
Other plants we use could be used for invasive species as it disrupted their breeding cycle. Made up differently using the bark crushed with and used with two root types to dip in the water everything would float to the surface just stunned or paralyzed, this was harmless to humans as we ate the fish we took.
Also taught how to hunt on the land by using the land and also taught how to respect the land for the land will provide for you if you respect it. All of our staff also were taught how to hunt and fish this way, which we have done for over 30 years.
Now we find that a lot of the plants are gone or are slowly disappearing dew to the over running of invasive species such as goats and pigs which have also destroyed site of cultural significant and to Aboriginal person it’s heart wrenching.
Working in both rural and urban setting within the Aboriginal community, has made us acutely aware of the issues impacting on Aboriginal people. We have learnt the importance of identity, oral history, language and cultural heritage. One of our staff was fortunate to have learnt some of the language spoken by my Elders, including his mother who had a strong command of both languages and spoke fluently in Gamilaraay.
Given extensive experience working in the Aboriginal community controlled health sector, knowledge of issues confronting Aboriginal communities and we have high level of skills and ability to work with Aboriginal people.
Dealing with many issues relating to Aboriginal people through involvement in various steering committees, as part of the non-government sector. Crystalizes the implications of government workings, legislation and policy frameworks having daily implications for how we do our work.